carroll



(No Model.)

T. S. CARROLL HAT STRETGHBR.

No. 368,068. Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THERON S. CARROLL, OF \VINSTED, CONNECTICUT.

HAT-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,068, dated August 9, 1887.

Application filed May 4, 1887. Serial No. 237,094. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THERoN S. CARROLL, of Winsted, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvementiu Hat-Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connec tion with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a perspective view; Fig. 2, a horizontal central section; Fig. 3, a vertical section through one of the quarter-pieces; Fig. 4,21. vertical section through one of the quarterpieces, showing the interlocking device.

This invention relates to an improvement in device for stretching hats. In that class of hat-stretchers which are more commonly used in hat-stores the block is made of ring shape, and is divided transversely into two parts, with an adjusting-screw within, so that the two parts may be forced asunder after being placed in the hat, and so that the spreading of the block will expand the hat. It frequently occurs that the hat requires expansion at the quarters, so as to make it conform to the shape of the head.

The object of my invention is to adapt this class of hatstretchers to be applied to stretch at the quarters instead of in the direct line only, as in the usual construction.

A represents the one part, and B the other part, of a common hat-stretcher, the two parts together of the usual ring shape. C is a screw fixed by one end to the part A in a longitudinal central line. On this screw is a correspond 'ingly-threaded sleeve, D,' so that by turning the sleeve on the screw C it will move from or approach the part A, according to the direction in which it is rotated. On the periphcry of the part B, at the quarter-points, vertical quarter-pieces E F are arranged. To the inside of the pieceE a link, G, is hung by one end. The other end of thelink ishung to a collar, H, on the sleeve D, the collar being arranged in an annular groove in the sleeve, so as to partake of the longitudinal movement of the sleeve,but without its rotation. The piece F is in like manner hung tothe collar H by a link, I.

As the sleeve D is revolved in one direction it will force the quarter-pieces outward, as indicated in broken lines Fig. 2; but ifthe sleeve be turned in the opposite direction the quarterpieces will be drawn in ward toward the block. A

The stretcher is placed in the hat in the usual manner, the quarter-pieces being in the direction of the quarters where the hat is to be stretched, front or rear, as the case may be. Then the sleeve is rotated to bring the quarterpieces E F against the inside of the hat at the quarter-points with a force sufficient to produce the required stretching. Preferably I provide each of the quarter-pieces'with one or more guide-pins a, (see Fig. 3,) which rest in corresponding holes in the block.

The block is made in two parts for convenience ofassembling; butso divided thestretcher may be used for longitudinal stretching only, by providing an interlocking device between the quarter-pieces and the part of the block which carries them. Such interlocking may be produced by a nut on the inner end of the guide-pins, as seen in Fig. 4. \Vhen the quarters are thus engaged, the stretcher will operate substantially as in the common construction of such a device.

Steady-pins b between the two parts are desirable, so as to retain the two parts in their proper relation to each other.

I claim- 1. The herein-described hat-stretcher, consisting of the ringshaped block, combined with the fixed screw C therein, the sleeve D on said screw, and quarter-pieces E F upon the periphery of the block, with link-connection between said quarter-pieces and said sleeve, substantially as described. I

2. The combination of a hat-stretching block composed of the two parts A B, the longitudinal screw C fixed to one of said parts, quarterpieces E F on the periphery of the other part, sleeve D on said screw with links between said sleeve and said quarter-pieces, and mechanism, substantially such as described, to interlock said quarter-pieces with the block, substantially as and for the purpose described.

THERON S. CARROLL.

Witnesses:

F. N. PLUMB, J'. E. LAYHEE. 

